Association between B and/or C chronic viral hepatitis and oral lichen planus.

INTRODUCTION

The chronic liver disease is a pathology produced, mainly, by the alcohol chronic abuse and by the hepatitis B and/or C virus infection. In the last years, it has been widely discussed the possible association between chronic liver disease and oral lichen planus. Recently, it has been suggested that the association between oral lichen planus and liver disease has a viral origin.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The objective of this transversal matched study is to know if there is a relationship between B and/or C viral chronic hepatitis and oral lichen planus. Two groups of 100 patients were selected: a case group with patients. Infected with hepatitis B and/or C virus, and a control group without liver disease matched in age and gender. Oral cavity was explored to detect lichen planus in both groups, but we registered other mucosal alterations.

RESULTS

We did not found any patient of the case group with oral lichen planus, but four patients with this disease in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study we did not found any association between the infection with the hepatitis B and/or C virus and oral lichen planus.